Machine foe folding wool



UNITED srarisnrnrnivr onnron.

RANDOLPH D, M. EDYVARDS, OF FRANKLIN, MICHIGAN.

MACHINE FOR FOLDING WOOL.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 23,234, dated March 15, 1859*.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RANDOLPH D. M. EDWARDS, of Franklin, in the county of Lenawee and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Folding Vool; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l, is a perspective view of the machine; Fig. 2, is a view of the same inverted when the folding lids are down; Figs. 3 and et, are sectional views of two of the folding lids and their appendages; Fig. 5 a leg of the machine, and Fig. 6 a separate view of one of the hooks for fastening the folding lids Qv and R together in an upright position.

The several parts of the machine marked in said drawings by letters are described as follows, viz: The parts marked A are the table-bed, and the parts marked B its corner blocks which are provided with sockets to receive the legs C which legs can be removed atpleasure. rl`he stationary table rim D is firmly secured to the table-bed and within the table-bed is fastened the center risers E and F, and between these also the cross risers G, H and I and cross pieces J and K. To these several risers are fastened the several wire springs marked ce, ZJ, and c, for throwing upward the folding lids against which they are made to press.

The parts marked Q, R, S, and T are folding lids and are hinged by common butts upon the stationary table rim risers and stationary platform Z to which they are respectively adjusted, and while down are there held by the contact of the spring catches with the corresponding plates upon the lids; said catches are marked N P, c, f, g and the said plates each marked 7L. Said catches are operated by their respective lew vers marked M, O, H, Y, and IV by means of their connectionsLandV and the lever U.

The lines marked y', represent the several strands of twine, five in number, for tying the fleece, and which pass from the balls I.; beneath the machine up through the folding lids at the holes marked z', and along the surface of such lids and the platform Z in the grooves prepared therefor and over the edge of the lids.

The machine is operated in the following manner, viz: First, the twine is adjusted as above mentioned, and the folding lids are brought down and there held by their re spective spring catches; next, the fleece is spread upon the machine with its outside up, and brought into as compact form as convenient with the hand; then the outer end of the connection L is pressed toward the machine, which pressure through the levers M and O, will loosen the spring catches N, and I), permitting the folding lids marked Q to be thrown up and over by means of the wire springs marked a, and b, compressing the fleece between them; next, the outer end of the lever` U, whose fulcrum is at YZ, is moved to the right, whereby the catches e, and g, by means of the levers IV and X, (whose respective fulcrums are at a, and m,) and their connection V, are loosened from their lids, R, and T, which are in like manner thrown up and over, still further compressing the fleece. The folding lids marked Q and R, are then readily fastened together and held in an upright position by means of hooks like the one in Fig. 6, with which each of the lids marked Q, is provided with one, marked Z and which fit into corresponding holes in the lid R; next, the lever U is moved to the left, causing the lever Y, whose fulcrum is at 0, by means of the connection V, to loosen the catch f, allowing the lid S, to be thrown up and over, compressing the fleece within a space limited to the extent of the platform Z. A further compression of the fleece is then obtained by pressing with the hand at the upper edge of lid S, in a. direction to the left and downward upon the fleece,- the pressure of which while the fleece acts as a fulcrum, causes the riser II to ascend to a limited extent as governed by a pin in the riser E which plays in a groove l in the end of the riser H, (as seen in Fig. 3

marked p). The lid S, thus becomes a follower over the platform Z, and pressure applied thereon brings the iieece to any desired eompactness; next the lid S, is returned to an upright posture and the riser H, made to descend to its former place, and the lid T, made to brace the lid S, holding the fleece as previously compressed. The operator then ties up the fleece, disengages the several lids from their position, removes the fieece, readjusts the twine as before and shuts down the several lids upon their respective catches, in readiness to repeat the operation of the machine upon another fleece.

I do not claim to be the original inventor l Whole arranged, constructed and operating of machines for folding Wool, but 5 substantially as zuid for the purposes set 10 /Vhat I claim as my improvement and deforth. sire to secure by Letters Patent, isl 5 The above described machine for folding Wool consisting of the table rim D the folcling lids Q R S T operated by catches, levers RANDOLPH D. M. EDWARDS.

Vtnesses EDWIN B. WOOD,

and springs, riser H and platform Z, the l CI-IAS. D. STEVENS. 

